these early times. We are fortunately not
entirely dependent on documentary records.
It was customary from very early times to
bury kings in their robes, and ecclesiastics in
their vestments, and at the translation of
the remains of a saint or especially revered
personage, the body was often wrapped in
later vestments before re-burial. It thus
happens that a few fragments of great
archaeological interest have been preserved
to the present day.
There are in the library of Durham
Cathedral some striking examples of Anglo-
Saxon needlework, having inscriptions which
definitely settle their origin.
They are a stole and a maniple, embroidered
in coloured silks red, green, blue, and purple
(now much discoloured) and gold thread on
a linen ground, and lined with silk (Plate i).
These precious relics were found in the cathe-
dral in the tomb of St. Cuthbert in 1826-7.
The stole is now in five pieces. In the centre
was represented the Holy Lamb (AGNV DI)*
with probably six prophets on either side.
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